Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Do Or Do Not ... #atozchallenge letter D

Each day I will post a thought that comes to mind. The first word of the thought will correspond with the letter of the day.

So here is my thought for the letter D

Camellia from my garden

Do or do not. There is no try.

~ Yoda (Star Wars)

I have often pondered over these famous words from Yoda. At first they made no sense to me. After all isn't trying a good thing?

The more I thought about it the less and less sense it made and then eventually I stopped thinking and deciphering. But today I'm going to give it a go and voice my thoughts. For so long I've been in the "do not" phase. Today I will "do". Perhaps I stopped "trying" because the very act of trying implies that we are ready for failure, that we can give up in an instant.

Each year during Spring, the flowers in my garden bloom. Some plants have many flowers, some have few. The flowers either bloom or they don't. There is no trying for them. Nature is so intelligent.

I've been suggesting to my son that he should learn to cook particularly if he wants to live overseas. For a long time his swift answer was a firm no, a definite "do not". My coaxing him into "trying" was of no avail. Then two weeks ago, he just decided he was going to learn, a definite "do". Last week he made a very yummy mince curry. This week it's pizza. Perhaps he needed to be in the frame of mind where failure was not an option and where he simply wanted to do.

I guess it's similar to driving. Once you are behind the wheel of the car, you simply do. Trying is too dangerous an option. Imagine if the pilot of the plane you are travelling in thought that day that he was going to try and fly the plane. I'm thankful they do or do not.

Do you think there is wisdom in Yoda's words? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Thanks Sanch. Yoda's quote is hard to decipher. On different days one looks at it differently. btw your link links back to my post so posting your link here http://www.sanchwrites.com/2017/04/diamante-lifespan/

Hey you quote Star Wars... How cool is that �� I guess sometimes we just need to try to not stress ourselves too much with the outcome. The poem is quite interesting... I am still amazed that you mixed star wars and Veda. ��that's very creative.

That actually makes so much sense, Suzy! I never thought of it like that before! Trying does actually mean we are more prepared for failure than success!Thank you for sharing this today!Have a blessed day!Happy AtoZing!Chicky @ www.mysteriouskaddu.com

Do or Do Not there is no try was my motto for my quilting life and it is powerful. I think sometimes we use the word try as a cop out, an excuse to do not. Invited to a party that I wasn't really keen on then saying I'd "try" to get there was easier than saying no. With my patchwork it was also an excuse to not start a project. When I adopted Do or Do Not then the excuses were cut. I would learn the new technique, or commit fully to it, or I would walk away from it... no more dilly dallying. I love the quote.PhilipaOzzypip Quilts

I think the key here is subtext- for some people when they say they will try they really mean that they will do everything they can and only stop if it is actually impossible, where as for others they will try until it is a bit hard, or they don't want to anymore. I feel like Yoda is talking to the second group, and saying they need to commit to their actions

1. Great quote from Yoda.(see 4. for qualification)2. Where's the photo of the diminutive Jedi master?3. Love the poem.4. Yoda's quote is only sometimes true. I agree with your examples, but there are times when we can only try and cannot be certain of a successful result.5. On a related matter. People often say, "I will try and do it." That's bad English. If Yoda wanted to be 100% correct with his quote, he should have said "There is no try and do, only try to do."6. May be the Force be with you.

Thanks DA #2 - I did think about that on my way to work this morning. I should've posted a picture of my talking Yoda he he. Yoda's quote is very confusing. I was hoping I would get different views on that and glad you gave us yours. Thanks for visiting.

I like your take on this. But I think trying is important--we often interchange it with "practice". And try is the same as do. For me it is more about thinking vs doing--the smallest act being bigger than the greatest thought. Kudos to your son--what joy to cook and make something delicious that everyone enjoys!

This has always been one of my favourite quotes. Usually when people say "I'll try" what they mean is they won't actually put their heart and soul into it, they'll give it a half assed attempt and then say "well, I tried"Debbie

I think it's a bit of both - sometimes you just have to step up and do it - time to walk your talk. Other times you need to take little steps or try something first to see if you're going to like it.Leanne | cresting the hill

I never thought of it that way, but I like the concept - Do or Do not and no in between. We are told to just "try", but is trying really enough? I need to think about this one.....Heidi visiting from the A to Z Challenge at, Decibel Memos (Perspectives absent of sound)

I love that Star Wars poem! Yoda's wisdom, in a way, is similar to that of the late American sports figure Yogi Berra. His sayings were twisted around but made sense if you thought about it. One example "this restaurant is so popular that no one eats there anymore." Yoda would have loved it.

Yoda was so very wise. At first even I thought trying was a good thing, but yes, your examples make a lot of sense. There was something that Tina Fey said once, would you want your surgeon to look all doubtful about your surgery or would you want her to be assertive and confident?

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I dream, because dreams make life worth living. I write to share the insights of my soul. I rhyme because poetry brings me great joy. I photograph to capture a moment in time to remember forever.
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